Freight-transferring apparatus



(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W L. MQGA'BE su o. ANDERSON FREIGHT TRANSFERRING APPARATUS. l

No. 585,221. Patented June 29,1897.

Wl TNESSES:

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

W. L. MGGABE 8v C. H. ANDERSON. FRMGHT TRANSPBRRING APPARATUS.

No. 585,221. Patented June 29,1897.

,4TTOHNEY VILLIAM L. MCCABE AND CHARLES H. ANDERSON, OF TACOMA,

1 VASHINGTON.

FREIGHTr-TRANSFERRl-NG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,221, dated June 29, 1897.

Application filed March 3l, 1896. Serial No. 585,278. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, WILLIAM L. MOOABE and CHARLES H. ANDERSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Tacoma, county of Pierce, and State of lVashington, have invented a new and useful Freight-Transferring Apparatus, of Which the following is a full, concise, and exact description, reference loeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to the transferring of grain and other freight shipped in sacks, boxes, or bales by means of carrying-belts made ofvrope and so arranged that freight may be transferred from the oars into a freight-house or into a ship, and vice versa, Without the use of hand-trucks, commonly used for such Work.. XVe do this by means of portable rope-belt conveyers to convey the,

freight from the cars or ship into the freighthouse, Where, by means of reversible dumping-tables, it is transferred to a fixed transferring-belt, which conveys it to one or the other end of the building. This belt is provided With portable interlacin g elevator-belts, which lift the freight onto an other reversible dumping-table, from Which it is received by another portable carrier and delivered to any part of the freight-house for storage or to the cars or ship for shipment.

Our invention Will bemore readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure Vl is a cross-section of a freighthouse with a car on one side and aship on the other. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the freight-house; and Fig. 3 is a plan of the same, showing the arrangement of the apparatus for handling freight. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of the elevating-conveyer and the dumping-table. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the interlacing ropes of the conveyers. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of the driving means for main conveyer. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the saine. Fig. S is a plan view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side View of the frame for the conveyer. Fig. 10 is a vertical section and front view of one of the idler-rolls carried by the frame. Fig. l1 is a side view of the tension device for the main conveyer, and Fig. 12 is an end View of the saine.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the several views.

The apparatus consists of a main carrying rope belt constructed on the floor or floors of a freight or Ware house, of any length, as shown at A A A, Figs. l, 2, and 3, Where in this instance it is arranged for two oors. By means of the grooved drums B B at one end and drum D at the other, the latter being used as the driving-drum, the belt is run continuously to the right or left, as desired, the looselyrunning idlers I I I carrying it on a line parallel With the floors. This belt is constructed of one continuous line of rope, and by means of the tension-wheel H and Weight YV, suspended from the pulley J, is kept tight at all times. (See Figs. 1l and l2.)

The main belt A is provided with one or more reversible dumping-tables, as indicated at F, F', and F2. These tables are centrally pivoted on a stout frame f f f, as shown in Fig. et. The upright standards or legs are equally distant from each other, and thus occupy the angles of a square. Under each leg is a pivoted roller t. On each side of the belt A is a track-rail T T, and the rollers t/ t run. on this track, supporting the table-frame across the belt A and the table F directly over it.V The table F is made of sheet metal or other material with sides turned up and pivoted to the frame at the sides, as shown at f Suspended on a pivot in this Way it can be set to an incline, so as to cause the packages thrown on it to slide to one or the other side, as desired. As shown in Fig. 4, the table T is set to receive freight from the elevator E and will turn it to one side of the belt A onto one of the conveyers C. In order to receive freight from one of the conveyers C, the table-frame is to be lifted clear of the belt A and turned one-fourth round, so F will deliver the freight onto A, the pivoted rollers t' being turned so as to tit track T. Thus the tables F, F', and F2 are reversible and may be rolled along the track T, so as to occupy any position desired over the main belt A.

The elevatorsv shown at E, E', and E2 are constructed as shown in Fig. 4, Where they are in position to elevate the freightfrom the main belt A onto one of the reversible dumpingtables F. It consists of a lower drum d and IOO an upper drum c, mounted on the side frames E E. Each drum is grooved and provided with a number of single-rope belts adapted to the ropes of the main beltA in number and spacings. The shaft of is centrally pivoted at (y on stout bars Z) Z), mounted on rollers t t, made to run on the track T. The bars Y) are held togetherby means of the raised crossbars Z1' and U3. These eross-bars serve as a support to the sides of E, as shown in Fig. i, and are high enough above A to allow freight to pass under them. The elevator E is re vel-sible and may be turned over to incline to the left and rest on the cross-bar L. .lt is to be observed that the drum (l is below the main belt A and on a level with the idler I. The elevator rope belts u a pass between the ropes ol' belt A. and thus make a continuous belt to carry the freight up onto the dumping-table F. Elevator E is provided with a friction-roller dv, which, b y means of the adjusling-serews 7a 71., is made to roll hard on the ropes of belt A and cause them to ride hard on (l, as more clearly shown in Fig. 5. ly this means (7 is made to turn by belt A, and thus the belts ov u of E are put in motion to correspond with A. lt is to be observed that E can be run along on T to occupy anyplace desired on the belt A. ln order to pass an idler l, one end of the carriage maybe lifted by using b or b2 as a handle and raising l so as lo pass overl, the beltA beingraised with d.

The eonveyers C, C', or (lI used to carry the freight to or from the main belt A are constructed as shown by Figs. G, 7, S, 9, and l0. The frame is made of four stout pipes or bars c c c c of any desired length, with a drum (l2, Fig. t', at one end and drum d3, Fig. i), at the other end. These drums are grooved, as shown in Fig. S, in which is fitted a rope belt a d', made of one continuous rope, the same as in main belt A. The pipes c c are framed together by cross pipes or bars c' c and e? c?, making a stout frame. On crosspipes c' c are small grooved idlersfi, `made te carry (if (d along the conveyer-frame. The belt is operated by means of the wheels li and L. Supposing the belt being run so as to carry goods from di to di", wheel L takes the rope from the left end of (l2 and carries it down one-half round and transfers it to wheel K, which transfers it to the right end of d3, as indicated in Figs. '7, S, and 9. By this means the rope is transferred from one side to the other of the belt, as required in a belt made of one continuous rope. The wheel L has ashaft with sliding bearings adjusted by hand-screws, as shown at 7H, by means of which the belt may be kept tight. The belt is driven by an electric motor M, which turns the worm-wheel N with gear-wheel attached to the shaft of K, all of which is indicated in Figs. (i, 7, and S. It is to be observed that the conveyors C, C, and C2 are made to weigh as little as possible, so as to be portable. They are to be carried from place to place about the buildin e.

ln conveying freight to the upper floor the elevator E takes it from the main belt on the first floor and d um ps it on to the angled board or chute-slide G, on which it passes around and onto the belt leading to the upper floor. By means of the elevator E2 it is thrown on the dumping-table F2, which delivers it to eonveyer C2, from which it is stored. (See Figs. l, 2, and 3.)

Having described our apparatus in detail,its operation is practically as follows: Su pposin g freight is to be taken from the ear R to the ship S, the sacks or bales are thrown on the eenveyer (l and by it conveyed to the dumpingtable F, which turns it onto the main belt A, on which it is carried to the elevator E', where it is raised to the table F/, on which it turned upon the conveyor C' and delivered by it to the ship Should we be taking freight from the ship to the ear, elevator E would be moved to F and reversed so as to lift goods passing` from right to left, the carrying-belts would be reversed in motion and the dumping-tables reversed to work with them, and the work would proceed as before, only in the opposite direction. It is to be observed that should eonveyer C be set opposite C the work can be done without the use of the main belt A.

To carry the freight into the warehouse, it is delivered to the main belt over conveyors C or C, and from that by means of elevator` E or E2 and tables F or F2 it is thrown upon a short eonveyer, as C2, and delivered to any part of the building. lt is to be observed that the eonveyer C2 can be raised or lowered so as to deliver the freight on a level with the top of the pile, and thus save the labor of lifting it into place, and also in taking freight from the warehouse the conveyer can belowered so the sacks or bales may be rolled down upon the belt without lifting, and, further, the elevators, dumping-tables, and conveyers being movable they can be moved to or from the goods as they are heilig removed or stored.

It is evident that our invention is susceptible to modifications to meet peculiar requirements, and we do not therefore desire to limit ourselves te minute details of construction as to dimensions, number of parts, and the hind of materials required in the apparatus.

XVe are aware that previous to our in vention various forms of carrying-belts and elevators have been in use by others. \Ve therefore do not claim such as our invention singly or broadly, but,

Having described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with a main conveyor, of an elevatingconveyer extending longitudinally above the main conveyor and adapted to be moved longitudinally of said main convcyer and to receive material therefrom, sul'istantially as described.

IOS

IIC

2. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with the main conveyer, of an elevating-conveyer extending longitudinally of the main conveyer and mounted so as to be reversed Vin its longitudinal relation to said main conveyer and to receive material therefrom whereby the same may be conveyed toward either end of the main conveyer, substantially as described.

3. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with a main conveyer, of a longitudinally-movable support, and an elevating-conveyer extending longitudinally of the main conveyerl and pivoted to said support so as to be capable of inclination in the direction of either end of the support, substantially as described.

4C. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with a main conveyer composed of a series of belts, of a movable support, an elevating-conveyer extending longitudinally of the main conveyer and composed of a series of belts lying between the belts of the main conveyer and carried by said support so as to be longitudinally movable along the length of the main conveyer, substantially as described.

5. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with a main conveyer composed of a travelin g belt, an elevating-conveyer adapted to receive .material therefrom, a driving-roll beneath said main conveyer and adapted to drive said elevating-conveyer, and a pressureroll located above said main conveyer and adapted to hold the same in frictional contact with the driving-roll of the elevatingconveyer, substantially as described.

6. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with a main conveyer, of an elevating con veyer extending longitudinally upward above said main conveyer adapted to receive material therefrom, and a dumping-table l0- cated abov'e said main conveyer and adapted to receive material from the elevating-conveyer and to discharge the same at an an gie to said conveyer, substantially as described.

7. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with two conveyers extending at an angle to each other, of a support movable longitudinally of one of said conveyers, and a dumping-table pivoted to said support and adapted to receive material from one conveyer and discharge the same in opposite directions upon the other conveyer, substantially as described.

S. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with a conveyer, of a longitudinallymovable support, a transverse inclined dumping-table centrally pivoted upon said support and adapted to be tilted in opposite directions to discharge material received from said conveyer upon either side thereof, substantially as described.

9. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with a main conveyer, of an auxiliary conveyer located at an angle thereto, a reversible frame longitudinally movable over the main conveyer, and a pivoted dumpingtable carried by said frame, whereby the frame and table may be adjusted to receive material from either conveyer and deliver the same to the other conveyer, substantially as described.

l0. In a transferring mechanism, a portable c onveyer composed of a belt, a supporting-frame having bearing-rolls at opposite ends,idler-rolls extending transversely of said frame to support said belt, a driving-motor located upon a transverse support carried by said framework and lying between the upper and'lower layers of said belt, a driving-wheel located upon a support carried by said frame and over which said belt passes, and means connecting the driving wheel and motor, substantially as described.

1l. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with a main conveyer, of an auxiliary conveyer located at an angle thereto, and a vertically-inclined pivoted dumping-table supported upon a reversible frame and situated at the junction of said conveyers and adapted. to discharge material received from one of said conveyers in opposite directions upon the other conveyer, substantially as described.

12. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with a main conveyer, of an auxiliary conveyer extending at an angle therefrom, an elevating-conveyer extending longitudinally upward from the main conveyer, and a vertically-inclined pivoted dumpingtable located above the main conveyer to receive material from said elevating-conveyer and discharge the same in opposite directions, substantially as described.

IS. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with a traveling conveyer, a vertically-inclined elevating-conveyer extending longitudinally above the same and adapted to receive material from the upper surface of said traveling conveyer, a second traveling conveyer located in a plane above said first traveling conveyer, and a vertically-inclined chute to receive material from said elevatingconveyer and discharge the same upon the upper surface of the second traveling conveyer, substantially as described.

I4. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with a main conveyer, of a supporting-carriage adapted to be moved longitudinally thereof, an elevating-conveyer extending`longitudinally above said main conveyer and centrally pivoted upon said carriage so as to be reversed to face either end thereof, and transverse supports located at `opposite ends of said carriage and adapted to support the elevating-conveyer when in its inclined position, substantially as described.

l5. In a transferring mechanism, the combination with a conveyer having sheaves at opposite ends, of an endless belt passing over said sheaves in a series of parallel lines, a vertical bearing-wheel, and a horizontallydisposed transferring-wheel around which IOO IIO

cated to receive material from the elevatingeonveyer and deposit it upon the upper portion oi' the traveling eonveyer, substantially as described.

In witness whereof we hereunto subscribe our names this 23d day of March, A. D. 1896.

\VILLIAM L. MCCABE. CHAS. 1I. ANDERSON.

\Vitnesses:

A. G. AVERY, S. C. MILLIGAN. 

